Filament drawing frame with variable roller-pair spacing

Abstract

A filament drawing apparatus has a support, at least two pairs of rollers spaced apart on the support in a travel direction so that a filament to be drawn passes in the direction between the rollers of both pairs, and a drive having at least two output shafts and including a transmission for rotating the shafts at different speeds. One of the shafts is connected to one of the roller pairs and the other roller pair is displaceable on the support in the travel direction relative to the one roller pair. An input gear is mounted on the other output shaft and an output gear is mounted on one of the rollers of the other roller pair and is displaceable therewith in the direction. An input link has one end pivoted at the other output shaft and an opposite end and an output link has one end pivoted at the one roller of the other roller pair and has an opposite end pivoted on the opposite end of the input link. An intermediate gear pivoted on the opposite ends meshes with and interconnects the input and output gears. Thus rotation of the other output shaft is transmitted from the input gear through the intermediate gear and output gear to the one roller of the other roller pair.

We claim: 
     
       1. A filament drawing apparatus comprising: a support;   at least two pairs of rollers spaced apart on the support in a travel direction, whereby filaments to be drawn pass in the direction between the rollers of both pairs;   a drive having at least two output shafts and including transmission means for rotating the shafts at different speeds, one of the shafts being connected to one of the roller pairs, the other roller pair being displaceable on the support in the direction relative to the one roller pair;   an input gear mounted on the other output shaft;   an output gear mounted on one of the rollers of the other roller pair and displaceable therewith in the direction;   an input link having one end pivoted at the other output shaft and an opposite end;   an output link having one end pivoted at the one roller of the other roller pair and having an opposite end pivoted on the opposite end of the input link; and   an intermediate gear pivoted on the opposite ends and meshing with and interconnecting the input and output gears, whereby rotation of the other output shaft is transmitted from the input gear through the intermediate gear and output gear to the one roller of the other roller pair.   
     
     
       2. The filament drawing apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the one output shaft is directly connected to one of the rollers of the one roller pair. 
     
     
       3. The filament drawing apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the support includes a housing containing the transmission means and a lubricating bath therefore. 
     
     
       4. The filament drawing apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the support includes a generally dusttight housing containing the gears and links. 
     
     
       5. The filament drawing apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein the housing has a slot that is elongated in the direction and through which the output gear is connected to the respective roller and is provided with a flexible flap sealing the slot. 
     
     
       6. The filament drawing apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein the interior of the housing is generally dry. 
     
     
       7. The filament drawing apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the intermediate gear is made of a synthetic resin. 
     
     
       8. The filament drawing apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein the input gear and output gear are made of metal. 
     
     
       9. The filament drawing apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising means for arresting one of the links on the housing against pivoting.   
     
     
       10. The filament drawing apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the support is provided with a journal sleeve in which the other output shaft is supported and on which the one end of the input link is pivoted. 
     
     
       11. The filament drawing apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising a journal block rotatably carrying the one roller of the other roller pair and provided with a sleeve on which the one end of the output link is pivoted.   
     
     
       12. In a filament drawing apparatus comprising: a support;   at least two pairs of rollers spaced apart on the support in a travel direction, whereby filaments to be drawn pass in the direction between the rollers of both pairs;   a drive having at least two output shafts and including transmission means for rotating the shafts at different speeds, one of the shafts being connected to one of the roller pairs, the other roller pair being displaceable on the support in the direction relative to the one roller pair;   an input gear mounted on the other output shaft;   an output gear mounted on one of the rollers of the other roller pair and diplaceable therewith in the direction; and   an intermediate gear meshing with and interconnecting the input and output gears, whereby rotation of the other output shaft is transmitted from the input gear through the intermediate gear and output gear to the one roller of the other roller pair; the improvement comprising:   an input link having one end pivoted at the other output shaft and an opposite end; and   an output link having one end pivoted at the one roller of the other roller pair and having an opposite end pivoted on the opposite end of the input link, the intermediate gear being mounted and rotatable on the opposite ends of the links.